Human kallikrein 10 expression in normal tissues by immunohistochemistry

The normal epithelial cell-specific 1 (NES1) gene (official name kallikrein gene 10, KLK10) was recently cloned and encodes for a putative secreted serine protease (human kallikrein 10, hK10). Several studies have confirmed that hK10 shares many similarities with the other kallikrein members at the DNA, mRNA, and protein levels. The enzyme was found in biological fluids, tissue extracts, and serum. Here we report the first detailed immunohistochemical (IHC) localization of hK10 in normal human tissues. We used the streptavidin-biotin method with two hK10-specific antibodies, a polyclonal rabbit and a monoclonal mouse antibody, developed in house. We analyzed 184 paraffin blocks from archival, current, and autopsy material, prepared from almost every normal human tissue. The staining pattern, the distribution of the immunostaining, and its intensity were studied in detail. Previously, we reported the expression of another novel human kallikrein, hK6, by using similar techniques. The IHC expression of hK10 was generally cytoplasmic and not organ-specific. A variety of normal human tissues expressed the protein. Glandular epithelia constituted the main immunoexpression sites, with representative organs being the breast, prostate, kidney, epididymis, endometrium, fallopian tubes, gastrointestinal tract, bronchus, salivary glands, bile ducts, and gallbladder. The choroid plexus epithelium, the peripheral nerves, and some neuroendocrine organs (including the islets of Langerhans, cells of the adenohypophysis, the adrenal medulla, and Leydig cells) expressed the protein strongly and diffusely. The spermatic epithelium of the testis expressed the protein moderately. A characteristic immunostaining was observed in Hassall's corpuscles of the thymus, oxyphilic cells of the thyroid and parathyroid glands, and chondrocytes. Comparing these results with those of hK6, we observed that both kallikreins had a similar IHC expression pattern.